T40 GPU Upgrade: ATI x300, 9600 or FireGL-128 which is best?

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xbytes · #1 Post by **xbytes** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 2:11 pm

Mainly I want to play games faster than on my ATI 7500, from what I have heard the GL cards aren't so good for games, but they are basically the same core as the 9600 with extra memory... Also I haven't been able to find a direct performance comparison between the x300 and the 9600, so I just can't decide what motherboard to get!

Also anybody know if you can convert the FireGL to a 9600!? rather have a 9600 w/128mb than a FireGL, probably be overclocking whatever GPU I get, have had good results overclocking the 7500 with ATI tool 230/183 default is lame, been running 290/255 Counter Strike source is actually playable, but I want (need) more power!

djpharoah · #2 Post by **djpharoah** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 3:03 pm

the only way you can upgrade your gpu is by upgrading the motherboard.

The T40 i believe only accepts the T41 motherboard so your best bet is to score a T41p motherboard.

The FireGL gpu is probably as good if not better than the 9600M in games.

xbytes · #3 Post by **xbytes** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 3:17 pm

Well that is my plan to upgrade the motherboard, I was thinking about getting FRU: 39T5451 board with the 9600 I'll have to check and see if it will fit my t40, hmm from the pictures the board layout looks about the same as the standard t40 one... just need the long fan?

djpharoah · #4 Post by **djpharoah** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 4:33 pm

xbytes wrote:Well that is my plan to upgrade the motherboard, I was thinking about getting FRU: 39T5451 board with the 9600 I'll have to check and see if it will fit my t40, hmm from the pictures the board layout looks about the same as the standard t40 one... just need the long fan?

Yes, you would need a long fan from a T41p or higher.

Also if you can get the 128mb fire gl over the 64mb 9600

dr_st · #5 Post by **dr_st** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:21 pm

If you don't plan to upgrade the CPU, you cannot use a T43 motherboard, so your best best is the FireGL T2 with 128MB. And yes, you can install Omega drivers on it and make it play like a Radeon.

xbytes · #6 Post by **xbytes** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 6:59 pm

thanks for your re's well that has put my options in perspective,hmm I may go for the FireGL actually because I have been running OS X on my T40 and I know it is a pretty easy to get the fireGL to run OS X well , it is a pain to try and get the 7500 setup properly, whatever happens the FireGL must be faster than the ATI 7500 and the 9000 + you get an extra 64mb hmm sounds like a plan

#7 Post by **richk** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 10:48 pm

There are some differences between T40 mortherboards and T41/T41. The T40 runs PC2100 memory, while the T41/42 use PC2700. The PC2100 memory will work in the other machines, but they will slow down.

Esben · #8 Post by **Esben** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 11:54 am

The FireGL of the T43 has double the memory bandwidth of the R9600. But whether your other components could run it such a motherboard is a good question. I'd recommend a whole machine upgrade, instead of a motherboard upgrade.

agarza · #9 Post by **agarza** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 1:28 pm

T43 motherboards have trouble fitting on a T40 chassis, mainly because of the ExpressCard. For sure a T43p is your best bet (if the price is right)

marvel · #10 Post by **marvel** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 3:13 pm

All in all the Fire GL 9000 chip is glued to the MB and not upgradeable? Thought it was possible to upgrade to the Fire GL 128 MB...

Thanks for the insights.

NAzu · #11 Post by **NAzu** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 5:04 pm

marvel wrote:All in all the Fire GL 9000 chip is glued to the MB and not upgradeable? Thought it was possible to upgrade to the Fire GL 128 MB...

Thanks for the insights.

If I remember right only Dell and Alienware laptops have the possibility to change the video'card'. In all other laptops the gpu is integrated to the motherboard so only way to upgrade videocard is to change the motherboard as said before.

cmarti · #12 Post by **cmarti** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 8:26 pm

dr_st wrote:If you don't plan to upgrade the CPU, you cannot use a T43 motherboard, so your best best is the FireGL T2 with 128MB. And yes, you can install Omega drivers on it and make it play like a Radeon.

Not totally correct he can use it at even higher speed.

dr_st · #13 Post by **dr_st** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 4:25 am

cmarti wrote:
dr_st wrote:If you don't plan to upgrade the CPU, you cannot use a T43 motherboard, so your best best is the FireGL T2 with 128MB. And yes, you can install Omega drivers on it and make it play like a Radeon.
Not totally correct he can use it at even higher speed.

Agreed, but I do think that pinmodding is a bit extreme for most users.

T40 GPU Upgrade: ATI x300, 9600 or FireGL-128 which is best?

T40 GPU Upgrade: ATI x300, 9600 or FireGL-128 which is best?

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